Remediation

Definition

Remediation refers to the process of reinterpreting or recreating a performance or artwork in a way that brings it into a new context or medium. This concept highlights how performance can be transformed and re-experienced through various lenses, such as historical reinterpretation or technological adaptation, allowing for an ongoing dialogue about the original work's meaning and impact.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Remediation can involve both live performances and recorded media, highlighting the versatility of artistic expression across different formats.
2. The concept emphasizes the relationship between original works and their re-imaginings, showcasing how meaning can shift when placed in a new context.
3. Artists often engage with remediation to comment on the historical significance or cultural implications of the original work they are reinterpreting.
4. Remediation raises questions about authorship and authenticity, as new interpretations may differ significantly from the original intent of the creator.
5. Through remediation, audiences are invited to reconsider their understanding of a performance, as each new version can reveal different layers of meaning and interpretation.

Review Questions

• How does remediation influence our understanding of a performance when it is reinterpreted or recreated?
  • Remediation influences our understanding by allowing us to see the performance through a new lens, which can alter its meaning and relevance. Each reinterpretation provides fresh insights and can highlight aspects that may have been overlooked in the original. This process encourages audiences to engage with the work in a deeper way, fostering discussions around its cultural and historical significance.
• In what ways do re-performance and reenactment differ in their approach to remediation, and what implications do these differences have on the audience's experience?
  • Re-performance focuses on live enactment with an emphasis on preserving the essence of the original work, while reenactment often involves staging past events with a goal of providing commentary. These differences impact audience experience by either inviting them to connect with the authenticity of the original through re-performance or encouraging critical reflection on historical events through reenactment. Each approach shapes how audiences interpret and relate to the work being presented.
• Evaluate how remediation contributes to ongoing dialogues in contemporary performance art and its role in shaping cultural narratives.
  • Remediation contributes significantly to contemporary performance art by fostering ongoing dialogues around historical context, cultural narratives, and evolving artistic practices. By engaging with existing works through reinterpretation, artists challenge traditional notions of authorship and originality. This allows for a reevaluation of cultural narratives as audiences witness how past performances resonate within current societal issues, thus transforming our collective understanding of art's role in reflecting and shaping culture.

Related terms

re-performance: Re-performance involves the live enactment of a previously existing performance work, often with the intention of preserving its essence while allowing for new interpretations.

reenactment: Reenactment is the act of staging or recreating a past event or performance, often to explore its significance or provide commentary on its original context.

performance documentation: Performance documentation includes various forms of recording and archiving live performances, which can serve as a reference for future interpretations and facilitate the process of remediation.